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My New Year’s Resolution: Doing Away With Diabetes

I am ready to rock and roll this year. My mission has become saving lives by making people more aware of diabetes. I am happy and proud of the things we have done over the past 11 months. Now, with the new film I’m directing (The Diabetic You), my diabetic friendly Belgian chocolate bar, and the diabetes-testing mall tour I am putting together, I know we are on the road to making things better for all of us fighting this disease.

I am ready to rock and roll this year. My mission has become saving lives by making people more aware of diabetes. I am happy and proud of the things we have done over the past 11 months. Now, with the new film I’m directing (The Diabetic You), my diabetic friendly Belgian chocolate bar, and the diabetes-testing mall tour I am putting together, I know we are on the road to making things better for all of us fighting this disease.

Of course, this journey has not been an easy one. We have to break into an industry that is seeing the rate of diabetes skyrocket. We are trying to do things in a way that is very much out of the box. Sometimes, the only way to make big changes is to shake things up. Diabetes is a big problem and we are not afraid to do things in a big way.

One of my main goals is to reach one million people over the next two years. We will do this by hitting every nook and cranny we possibly can. When I started making the film, there were 280 million diabetics. Eleven months later, there are over 366 million. The numbers change depending upon who you talk to. Nonetheless, this global epidemic is taking more lives than AIDS and cancer combined.

I had no idea I would ever be diagnosed with diabetes. Once diagnosed, I had no choice but to take this path to educate and inspire people. I have met some of the most amazing doctors, nurses and educators who are giving their time, talents and money to help fight diabetes. What dedication! I am in awe of the people living with diabetes that have shared their stories with me. They have brought me to tears with their honesty and willingness to share.

Together, we will take back control of our bodies and our lives. Together we will find answers. It can be overwhelming sometimes to think of the millions and millions of diabetics out there. It helps me to think of it in terms of one life at a time.

The odds are some of you reading this right now are undiagnosed diabetics. Please get tested. Please spread the word about the importance of testing. If I can impact your life and you can impact the life of another, we will start a ripple effect that will be unstoppable.

Last year was a good year. This year will be a great year. My resolution to never give up fighting diabetes is one I will have for many years to come.

Blog written by Charles Mattocks
Charles Mattocks, aka The Poor Chef, has made a name for himself as the author of Eat Cheap but Eat Well. His meals are healthy,...